Page Type: countryOman | Ethnologue

OM

Sultanate of Oman

Oman

Summary

Sultanate of Oman
CPPDCE (2007), CSICH (2005), UNCRPD (2009), UNDRIP (2007)
4,665,000
Standard Arabic
96% (2018 UNESCO)
Holes 1988, Holes 1990, Johnstone 1967
The number of established languages listed for Oman is 17. All are living languages. Of these, 10 are indigenous and 7 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 2 are institutional, 3 are developing, 5 are vigorous, 5 are in trouble, and 2 are dying. Also listed are 18 unestablished languages.
Adh Dhahirah and Al Batinah South governorates. Users: 17,900 in Oman (2020). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Dhofar governorate: Salala and nearby coastal regions. Users: 125,000 (2020). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Dhofari, Zofari Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Users: 75,200 in Oman (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Widespread. Users: 788,000 in Oman (2020). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Bedawi, Gulf Arabic, Omani Bedawi Arabic Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Widespread, mainly in Hajar mountain highlands and a few coastal regions. Users: 2,140,000 in Oman (2020). Total users in all countries: 2,872,200. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Omani Hadari Arabic Autonym: عماني‎ (ʿumāni) Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Musandam governorate. Users: 17,900 in Oman (2020). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Users: 17,900 in Oman (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Widespread. Users: 2,140,000 in Oman (2015 SIL), all users. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Basic Law, Article 3). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Users: 19,700 in Oman (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Users: 16,300 in Oman (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Muscat governorate, and dispersed on Gulf of Oman coast. Users: 233,000 in Oman (2020). Ethnic population: 312,000 (1993). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Baloci, Baluchi, Baluci Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Balochi
Dhofar governorate: Al Jazeer to Shweymia coastal towns. Users: 200 in Oman (2011). Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Batahari, Bathara Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South, South Arabian
Users: 200,000 in Oman (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Eastern, Bengali-Assamese
Widespread. Users: 17,300 in Oman (2020 Joshua Project). Status: 3 (Wider communication). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
Users: 6,430 in Oman (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Gujarati
Al Wusta and Dhofar governorates: Jiddat al-Harasis. Users: 600 (2011). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Harsi ’Aforit, Hersyet, South Arabian Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South, South Arabian
Users: 15,600 in Oman (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Western Hindi, Hindustani
Dhofar governorate: near Yemen border. Users: 100 in Oman (1998 H. Mutzafi). Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Hewbyót, Hobi, Kalam Rifi Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South, South Arabian
Musandam peninsula north. Users: 5,360 in Oman (2020). Total users in all countries: 6,060 (as L1: 6,030; as L2: 30). Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Kumzai Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Luri
Mostly Muscat and coastal towns of Barka, Khabura, Musana, and Saham. Users: 8,940 (2020). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Hyderabadi, Khoja, Khojki, Lawatiya Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Northwestern, Sindhi
Users: 223,000 in Oman (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Dravidian, Southern, Tamil-Kannada, Tamil-Kodagu, Tamil-Malayalam, Malayalam
Al Wusta and Dhofar governorates: south near Yemen border. Users: 89,400 in Oman (2020). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Mahri Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South, South Arabian
Muscat governorate: Muttrah and Ruwi areas near Muscat city; possibly other coastal cities. Users: 67,900 in Oman (2020). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Persian, Western Farsi Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian
Users: 39,300 in Oman (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Panjabi
Dhofar governorate: coastal mountains and plains; Khuriya Muriya islands in Arabian Sea near Fararah. Users: 44,700 in Oman (2020). Total users in all countries: 84,900. Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Ehkili, Geblet, Jibali, Jibbali, Qarawi, Sehri, Shahari, Sheret, South Arabian Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South, South Arabian
Users: 26,800 in Oman (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Northwestern, Sindhi
Users: 35,700 in Oman (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Southern, Sinhalese-Maldivian
Ash Sharqiyah South and Muscat governorates; urban centers Muscat and Sur. Users: 51,800 in Oman (2020). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Kiswahili Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, G, Swahili (G.42)
Users: 94,700 in Oman (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Greater Central Philippine, Central Philippine, Tagalog
Users: 12,900 in Oman (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Dravidian, Southern, Tamil-Kannada, Tamil-Kodagu, Tamil-Malayalam, Tamil
Users: 73,300 in Oman (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Western Hindi, Hindustani
    [arb] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Basic Law, Article 3). 2,140,000 in Oman (2015 SIL), all users.
    [afb] 5* (Dispersed). 788,000 in Oman (2020).
    [pes] 5* (Dispersed). 67,900 in Oman (2020).
    [swh] 5* (Dispersed). 51,800 in Oman (2020).
    [abv] 6a* (Vigorous). 17,900 in Oman (2020).
    [acx] 6a* (Vigorous). 2,140,000 in Oman (2020). Total users in all countries: 2,872,200.
    [adf] 6a* (Vigorous). 125,000 (2020).
    [luv] 6a* (Vigorous). 8,940 (2020).
    [ssh] 6a* (Vigorous). 17,900 in Oman (2020).
    [bcc] 6b* (Threatened). 233,000 in Oman (2020). Ethnic population: 312,000 (1993).
    [gdq] 6b* (Threatened). 89,400 in Oman (2020).
    [shv] 6b* (Threatened). 44,700 in Oman (2020). Total users in all countries: 84,900.
    [hss] 7 (Shifting). 600 (2011).
    [hoh] 8a (Moribund). 100 in Oman (1998 H. Mutzafi).
    [zum] 8a (Moribund). 5,360 in Oman (2020). Total users in all countries: 6,060 (as L1: 6,030; as L2: 30).

Oman

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile